Academics
General Information: Towards a BA in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
The Center's program in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies offers a structured body of courses, drawn from the Division of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Social Sciences, leading to a BA in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. It is designed to provide a detailed knowledge of the history, language and literature, institutions, customs and culture of the Greek people from Byzantine times to the present. Program offerings are divided into four categories:
1. Byzantine Studies
The Program offers courses and seminars on: The History of Byzantine Empire, Byzantine Culture and Civilization, and Byzantine Art.
2. Modern Greek Studies
The Program offers courses and seminars on: Modern Greek Culture and Civilization, The History of Southeastern Europe, Modern Greek History, The Formation of the Modern Greek State, The Economy of Greece, The Politics of Greece and Cyprus, Middle Eastern Politics.
3. Modern Greek Literature and Culture
The Program offers courses and seminars on: Modern Greek Language, Modern Greek Literature, and Greek Cinema.
4. Greek American Studies
The Program offers courses, seminars and workshops on: Ethnic Groups in New York, The Greek American Community, Urban Studies Workshop on the Greeks of New York.
Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies should be of special interest to those students who have either a cultural or professional interest in the Greek experience, and to those seeking to understand a culture and a civilization other than their own. Because the Program draws from several disciplines, it offers insights into the unity of knowledge and leads to a BA in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. The Program is also an excellent choice as a second major. It provides the background for graduate work in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
The Major
Requirements for the Major are as follows:
1.A minimum of 36 credits in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies including:
One of the following courses:
· GRST 101 , Byzantine Culture and Civilization or
· GRST 102 , The Greek American Community
In addition, two courses each from the three of the four categories listed under intermediate courses and a seminar, for the total of 27 credits. (If category D is chosen, one of the courses must be a general course on ethnicity).
The introductory courses in each category are a prerequisite for the intermediate courses, tutorials, and seminars in each category. Exemptions may be given by the Director with concurrence of the instructor.
Tutorials, colloquia, and seminars not listed in the Program but in which the student demonstrates a significant research effort on a Byzantine or Modern Greek theme may, with the approval of the Director, fulfill the research requirements or be offered as an elective
1.Majors are also required to take four semesters of Modern Greek or pass a proficiency examination in Modern Greek equivalent to the intermediate level.
Students who plan to concentrate on Byzantine Studies may offer four semesters of Ancient Greek or its equivalent. Up to three (3) credits of Ancient or Modern Greek through the intermediate level may be used toward 36-credit requirement for the major.
Transfer students must take a minimum of 18 credits in the Program regardless of the number of
credits earned in another institution. Students with two majors, including Byzantine and Modern
Greek Studies, may not cross-list more than 12 credits toward a 36-credit requirement
Majors are encouraged to confer with the Program Director at all stages of their studies. A
concentration form should be filled during the junior year. Students are advised to consult the
Program's Student Handbook for a detailed description of courses offered each semester.
The Minor
Requirements for the Minor are as follows:
1. A minimum of 18 credits in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies including:
One of the following courses:
· GRST 101 , Byzantine Culture and Civilization or
· GRST 102 , The Greek American Community
In the four categories (Byzantine Studies, Modern Greek Studies, Modern Greek Literature and Culture, and Greek American Studies) two courses from one and one course from another category, for a total of 15 credits.
2. In addition, students are required to take four semesters of Modern Greek or pass a proficiency examination in Modern Greek equivalent to the intermediate level.
Students who plan to concentrate in Byzantine Studies may offer four semesters of Ancient Greek or its equivalent. Up to three credits of Ancient or Modern Greek through the intermediate level may be used toward 18-credit requirement for the minor.
Elementary and Early Childhood Education majors may use Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies to meet their department's requirement for a minor (24 credits) in another field. A detailed description of the special minor is available at the Program office.
Course Requirements
All coursed earn three (3) credits.
I. Introductory
The courses listed below are introductions to the major categories of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. Students of the Program are advised to complete these courses by the end of their sophomore year.
· GRST 100 Modern Greek Culture and Civilization
· GRST 101 Byzantine Culture and Civilization
· GRST 102 The Greek American Community
II. Intermediate
A. Byzantine Studies
· Art 211 Early Christian and Byzantine Art
· History 209 The Byzantine Empire, 324-1025
· History 210 The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1453
B. Modern Greek Studies
· Economics 221 The Economy of Greece
· History 289 History of Southeastern Europe, 1354-1804
· History 240 History of Southeastern Europe, 1804 to the Present
· History 241 Modern Greek History 1821-1923
· History 242 Modern Greek History, 1923 to the Present
· Pl.Sci. 241/249 The Formation of the Modern Greek State
· Pol.Sci. 260 The Middle East in World Politics
· Pol.Sci.269 Colloquium in International Politics (When the subject is on Greece and/or Cyprus)
C. Modern Greek Literature and Culture
· Anthro. 209 Peoples of Europe (When the subject is on Greece and Cyprus)
· GRST 200 Greek Cinema
· Greek 305 Modern Greek Literature I
· Greek 306 Modern Greek Literature II
· Greek 150 Modern Greek Literature in Translation
D. Greek American Studies
· GRST 201 Colloquium on the Greek American Community
· ETST 310 Six Major Ethnic Groups of New York
· Urban Studies 11 Ethnic Groups in Cities (???)
III. Seminars
· GRST 300 Seminar on the Greek American Community
· GRST 301 Seminar in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
· Greek 321 Survey of Modern Greek Literature I
· Greek 322 Survey of Modern Greek Literature II
· History 394 Seminar in History (When the topic is on Byzantine, Balkan, or Modern Greek History)
· Pol.Sci. 384 Seminar in International Politics (When the topic is on Greece and/or Cyprus, or when listed as the Middle East in World Politics)
IV. Additional Electives
· Greek 204 Intermediate Modern Greek II
· Greek 211 Modern Greek Conversation
· Greek 251 Elementary Ancient Greek I
· Greek 252 Elementary Ancient Greek II
· Greek 315 Writing about Literature: Theory and Practice
· Greek 330 Early Modern Greek Literature: 14 th to 17 th Century.
· Greek 335 Modern Greek Poets
· Art 206 Art of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greece
· Classics 120 Greek Civilization
· Classics 140 Classical Mythology
· GRST 202 Selected Topics in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies
· GRST 390 Tutorial (on Byzantine and Modern Greek subjects)
